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- Tasks: Support young people with additional needs in education and personal care.
- Company: Join Barnet and Southgate College, a forward-thinking institution making a real difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy 31 days holiday, gym access, and discounts at local shops.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a genuine impact on students' lives while building your career.
- Qualifications: Level 2 qualification and experience with students with disabilities required.
Are you passionate about supporting young people with additional needs to access education, build independence and achieve their potential? Do you want a role where your day-to-day work makes a genuine, visible difference in someone's life? If so, we would love to hear from you. This is a rewarding and varied role that combines in-class learning support with personal care, working with students with a range of physical, cognitive and additional needs in a mainstream further education setting.
Based at our Southgate campus, you will work closely with the Study Support Lead, vocational tutors and wider Student Services staff to remove barriers to learning and ensure every student you support can participate fully in college life. You will support students both in the classroom and with their personal care needs, which may include the use of specialist equipment such as hoists, peg feeding and suction. You will manage a caseload of students, draw up support plans with SMART targets and monitor progress, building trusted relationships that encourage and enable each learner to grow in confidence and achievement.
About Barnet and Southgate College: We change lives, empower individuals and connect communities. We are an ambitious, forward-thinking further education college in North London, proud to serve diverse communities across Barnet, Southgate and beyond. Our 2030 Vision is bold: to be a leading provider of learning and skills development, fostering exceptional educational experiences, driven by innovation, collaboration and excellence. Our Student Services and inclusion team is committed to ensuring that every learner, regardless of their needs, has the support they need to succeed. You will be joining a team of dedicated professionals who share your commitment to inclusive practice and making a real difference for the young people in their care.
What You'll Be Doing
- Learning support: Support students with additional needs in the classroom, assisting with learning resources, digital tools, specialist equipment, aids and adaptations, and contributing to the development of a bank of resources to support students.
- Personal care: Provide personal care support to students as required, including the use of specialist equipment such as hoists, peg feeding, suction and drainage, and support with all aspects of daily personal care needs.
- Support planning: Draw up agreed support plans with SMART targets, monitor and evaluate progress, identify students at risk of not achieving and intervene or refer appropriately.
- Caseload management: Manage a caseload of students, liaising with teaching staff, the inclusion team and external partners to ensure support is focused, appropriate and impactful.
- Behaviour support: Manage behaviours and emotional regulation including challenging and confrontational behaviour, applying appropriate strategies with patience, consistency and care.
- Records and reporting: Keep accurate, timely records on all students in line with GDPR, and produce qualitative and quantitative reports to meet audit, Ofsted, Matrix and other inspection requirements.
- Wider contribution: Participate in appropriate meetings, training and reviews, contribute to quality improvement, and take part in College-wide activities such as open days and enrolment.
What You'll Bring
- A relevant Level 2 qualification
- English and Maths at Grade 5-9 or equivalent
- Proven experience of working in FE or a secondary school setting
- Proven experience of working with students with learning and physical disabilities, including both education support and personal care
- Proven experience of supporting students with all aspects of personal care, including feeding, hoist use and bathroom support
- Experience of setting SMART targets and monitoring student progress
- Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with young people and to motivate and engage learners
- Clear understanding of the barriers young people face and strategies to overcome them
- Knowledge and understanding of how to support students with challenging behaviour and emotional dysregulation
- Good IT and communication skills, including the ability to support students with digital and adaptive technology
- Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding
Even Better If You Have...
- Training certificates in the use of hoists or peg feeding
- Experience working with students with complex physical or medical needs
- Knowledge of relevant legislation including the Equality Act, SEND Code of Practice and safeguarding frameworks
Our Employee Pledge
The College offers employees a generous holiday allowance of 31 days annual leave for our support staff plus bank holidays. Pro Rata'd for part time employees. We also offer an attractive package of optional benefits for employees to take advantage of.
- Annual Season Ticket Loans: We offer permanent or contract staff with a minimum of a 12 month contract the option to purchase an annual season ticket loan without the big financial hit in one go!
- Cycle to Work Scheme: The scheme is an incentive for staff, offering tax free bikes through bike shops.
- Employee Support Helpline: The Employee Assistance Helpline can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Eye Tests for DSE Users: The College will refund the cost of regular eye tests for staff that use Display Screen Equipment regularly.
- Flu vouchers: We offer established staff a free flu vaccination voucher.
- Gym Facilities: Our Sports Centre at Southgate Campus is available for all staff.
- Hair Salon Services and Beauty Treatments: A range of competitively-priced hairdressing services are accessible at our Colindale Campus.
- High Street Discounts: Discount for teachers is a shopping benefits website for staff.
Personal Care Assistant employer: Barnet And Southgate College
Contact Detail:
Barnet And Southgate College Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Personal Care Assistant
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector, especially those who work with young people with additional needs. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that might not even be advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the college and its values. Show us you’re passionate about making a difference in students' lives. Bring examples of how you've supported learners in the past, especially with personal care and learning support.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions. Think about how you would handle challenging behaviours or support a student with specific needs. We want to see your problem-solving skills in action!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Barnet and Southgate College.
We think you need these skills to ace Personal Care Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience with young people who have additional needs. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant qualifications and experiences!
Show Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for supporting students shine through! Share specific examples of how you've made a difference in someone's life or how you’ve helped them overcome challenges. We love to see genuine passion for the role.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read and understand, so make sure your key points stand out!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our college there.
How to prepare for a job interview at Barnet And Southgate College
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you understand the role of a Personal Care Assistant inside out. Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of students with additional needs and the types of support they require. This will help you demonstrate your passion and knowledge during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Be ready to share specific examples from your past experiences that highlight your ability to support students with learning and physical disabilities. Discuss how you've set SMART targets and monitored progress, as well as any personal care tasks you've successfully managed.
✨Build Rapport
During the interview, focus on building a connection with the interviewers. Show your enthusiasm for working with young people and your commitment to making a difference in their lives. Use positive body language and maintain eye contact to convey your genuine interest.
✨Prepare Questions
Have a few thoughtful questions prepared to ask at the end of the interview. This shows your interest in the role and the college. You might ask about the support systems in place for staff or how the college fosters an inclusive environment for students.